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AFRICA – FROM A MISSION FIELD TO A MISSION FORCE

One hundred mission-minded African Christian leaders from 33 nations have affirmed Africa’s shifting role in global evangelism. They met last month at the “Together: Africa to the Nations,” conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference focussed on a vision that moves beyond seeing Africa as a field for mission work. Instead, it celebrated the continent’s growing role as a source of missionaries – a sending force for the Gospel globally. Christian Daily International reports sub-Saharan Africa has one of the fastest growing Christian populations in the world.
Leaders who spoke at the conference emphasized that the African church has undergone significant growth and is increasingly ready to take on a larger role in global outreach. Participants came from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and national backgrounds, signalling a diverse yet united front in mission planning. Many African missionaries are already at work in communities across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. [Source: Christian Daily International]

CHRISTIANITY REMAINS THE WORLD’S LARGEST RELIGIOUS GROUP
The Pew Research Center (PRC) is a nonpartisan American think tank based in Washington, D.C., and undertakes  an ongoing Global Religious Futures project. Christian Today reports PRC assessed 201 countries and territories using a Religious Diversity Index that measures how evenly seven major religious categories are represented. Singapore was ranked the most religiously diverse country in the world. Countries such as Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia were among the least religiously diverse, with Muslims accounting for 99.8% plus of their populations.
Globally, Christianity remains the world’s largest religious group at 2.3 billion people. But Muslims, now numbering around 2 billion, are the fastest-growing major religious group. The number of religiously unaffiliated people has risen to 1.9 billion – nearly a quarter of humanity. The unaffiliated were found particularly in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. [Source: Christian Today]

THE PERSECUTED IRANIAN WOMAN –  NOW RESCUES GIRLS IN AFGHANISTAN
When Muslim mullahs in Iran discovered  Khale‘s (Aunty in Farsi) conversion, she was imprisoned, where she endured severe brutality. Miraculously she was released from prison, and together with her daughter and baby granddaughter, was able to flee Iran and settle in Canada. It was here that she heard God’s call to minister in Afghanistan. When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, when ministries were shutting down and believers were fleeing, God opened a door for Khale to minister there. God is using Khale mightily to bless single mothers and children. The gospel is being preached in the darkest places.
Here are a few testimonies from Afghanistan. One night, a widow with five children (her husband was killed by the Taliban), was starving. One of the workers from Kahle’s mission took food to their home. The worker shared the gospel with them, and the children accepted Christ. Then there was the single mother, with no options left, who sold her 5-year-old daughter just to feed her 3-year-old son. God used Khale to raise funds and rescue that little girl. She was 7-years-old when Khale was finally able to bring her to safety.
Legally, schools are closed for girls in Afghanistan. But God has His ways of reaching His daughters and educating them. Khale now facilitates homeschooling, and through God’s provision, she has opened a new school. Yes, the Taliban may build walls around women and girls, but the Lord knows how to take care of his daughters. The Gospel is being  preached. Please pray that the gospel would spread swiftly in Afghanistan, and for the protection of Khale’s team. [Source: Back to Jerusalem]

MISSIONARY SHIP DOULOS HOPE BRINGS HOPE TO PNG.
Arriving from Timor-Leste, the PNG government officially welcomed the missionary ship Doulos Hope to its shores, commending it for promoting literacy, learning and community service through its global mission. Throughout February, Doulos Hope has been a major attraction, drawing crowds for its literature, education, and cultural exchange. Within the first week, over 10,000 visitors, including families and school groups, visited the Operation Mobilisation (OM) floating book fair.
The crew has entertained visitors through songs, dances, and Christian testimonials. And has also conducted outreach in surrounding communities and schools. The ship carries around 100 crew members from 35 nationalities, and features more than 2000 book titles for children, youths and families. The ship ministry focuses on partnering with local churches to share the Gospel and provide community support. The vessel remained open to the public in Port Moresby until March 1. [Source: Operation Mobilisation]

US CHURCHGOERS WHO ACTUALLY READ THE BIBLE DAILY
A new survey found that just 31 % of Protestant churchgoers in America read the Bible daily. Lifeway Research also revealed some additional intriguing statistics that are likely to spark conversation within Christian communities. The research gives a powerful lens into Bible reading patterns in the US. “According to the State of Discipleship study, around 3 in 5 Americans who attend worship services at least once a month (61%) regularly read the Bible, including 31% who read every day and 30% who do so a few times a week,” the survey explanation reads. These statistics haven’t changed much since 2019, with 59% stating at the time that they were regular readers.
However, other interesting statistics concern those who have attempted to read the Bible. Overall, 9 in 10 Americans “have read at least some” of Scripture, with just 22% reporting having finished the book once. Lifeway Research also surveyed the effects of missing regular Bible reading, with many respondents reporting negative impacts. In fact, 62% said they feel a desperate need for this time with God when they go a few days without reading Scripture. Notably, 58% also reported feeling unfulfilled when they go a few days without studying the Bible. And 74% of U.S. Protestant churchgoers believe “the Bible has authority over every area of their lives. [Survey: Lifeway Research.]

PASTOR TREATED INHUMANELY BY HINDU NATIONALISTS
(Morning Star News) – As police looked on, a Hindu nationalist mob in India subjected a pastor to dehumanizing brutality. Pastor Naik said surviving the ordeal was a miracle as he was certain he would be killed. “When my ordeal was unstoppable and police showed no intention of rescuing me, I surrendered my spirit to Jesus, knowing they would kill me,” Pastor Naik told Morning Star News. The mob later indicated they were upset that he was converting Hindus to Christianity, which is not a crime in India.
Pastor Naik has been pastoring a house church in Parjang village for nearly two years, and 15 minutes into his Jan. 4 worship service, about 40 people led by members of an Hindu extremist Party, came inside, took him by his collar and dragged him out and immediately started to beat him. His wife and two daughters aged 13 and 10 witnessed the mob assaulting him. His wife ran to the local police station and  pleaded with police to rescue her husband, but they said that they would have to wait for the  police patrol car. And so for the next two hours, the assault on the pastor continued.
The mob, now 150 strong, kicked, slapped, pushed and pulled Pastor Naik. The repeated slapping caused his face to swell as others kicked his back. His hands began to bleed from the strain on the ligatures binding him to the pole. Someone from the mob got water mixed with cow dung and tried to force him to drink it, but he tightened his lips and did not let it enter his mouth. They took him to an Hindu temple, and thrust his face and body before the deity and made him bow as if in worship.
Two policemen patrolling the area went to rescue Pastor Naik and when they saw him being beaten, left and returned saying that he was nowhere to be found. The Hindu nationalist mob showing no fear of police, boldly paraded the pastor around the entire village with impunity (even going past the police station!) and then brought him back to the Hindu temple and tied him to a pole. It was only at the insistence of the Pastor’s wife, that the police took her with them, to finally find him bound up in the temple. Police laid no charges and provided no report. The family took him to a hospital for treatment, and it was then that Pastor Naik realized that his hearing was impacted because of the blows on his face.
About 30 Christian leaders approached the office of the Superintendent of Police on Jan. 12 and submitted an application to register a formal complaint against the non-action of the police and against 20 unidentified people for brutally assaulting and criminally intimidating the Pastor. The pastor and his family shifted to an undisclosed location and plan never to return.
Hindu extremists in several parts of the country have been emboldened to attack Christians since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014. India ranked 12th on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, up from 31st in 2013 before Modi came to power.

– compiled by Guido Kettniss